Lavender Brown was a simple serving girl. She had no hopes or dreams of her own, knowing that she was not entitled to such luxuries. No, Lavender would live and die in this castle, serving Lord Riddle until she was too old to lift her arms. Then she would be disposed of - Lavender had seen it happen many times before. Lord Riddle had almost as little tolerance for the elderly as he did for the peasants... yet Lavender often wondered why Riddle himself never seemed to age. Some said he drank virgin blood to stay young, but that seemed a silly bedtime story parents told to scare their children. Lavender thought that it was simply the cruel man's stubborn disposition which prevented him from allowing his body to age. Or die, probably. Certainly there didn't seem to ever be an end to his terrifying reign.

One thing Lavender did have, however, was loyalty. Loyalty to her mistress, Ginny, who through a stroke of dumb luck - or terrible misfortune - had found herself the desired bride of Riddle. Why he had chosen Ginny, among all the noble children, was beyond anyone's guesses, although Ginny's beauty was not easily dismissed. None the less Ginny grew up as a kind, compassionate and brave girl, and Lavender had admired her silent courage from a distance, wishing that she herself could face her fate with the same strength, head held high, the same determination.

But Lavender was not brave. She watched Ginny and Parvarti's minuscule rebellions, she heard of others in the castle who had tried and failed to stand up to Riddle...and yet she could not do it, she could never do it. And after Riddle had had her punished for disobeying an order, for delivering a dress directly to Ginny instead of to him for inspection, she lost any small desire for rebellion she might have had. No, she never wished to be brave.

Yet here she was - in Ginny's chambers with the lost sword of James of Godricshollow, that she had stolen from right under Riddle's nose. What had possessed her to commit this act, at this moment, she couldn't tell. Yet this act of bravery would prove more important to the downfall of Lord Riddle than Lavender would ever realise.

Presently, Ginny was holding the sword, staring in awe at Parvarti as she recounted a story Lavender had heard many times before, about how James and Lily of Godricshollow had been ambushed and murdered by Lord Riddle 16 years ago, and how although no one had ever found the body of the infant, their sole heir Harry had been presumed dead as well. Yet he was a boy, or man, of the right age, with the right features, with the right sword. Parvarti had made the connection which Lavender had missed... but then she hadn't looked as closely at the black-haired stranger as her friend, being more interested in his red-haired companion.

"Harry of Godricshollow is alive," Ginny breathed. All three girls were silent for a moment, letting this new development sink in. It was unbelievable, incredible, exceptionally lucky... Except.

"And Lord Riddle's got him locked in the dungeon," Lavender whispered, hardly realising that she was speaking out loud.

All three girls fell silent again. What could they do? Three young girls, barely of age, against an entire army, not to mention Lord Riddle himself, it seemed-

"We have to rescue him." It was Ginny, of course it was. Lavender sighed. If there was ever a day she should have stayed in bed...

...

Lavender had been right. It proved almost impossible to get to the dungeons, and three times they met guards and had to come up with excuses. It worked well with Crabbe and Goyle, but the third time they encountered Severus Snape, the snake of a court physician who guarded the entrance to the dungeons. He did not let them through. Not until Ginny threatened him with Lord James' sword did Severus' facade break, and when he blanched and lowered his guard slightly, it was enough for Lavender and Parvarti to catch him off guard and wrestle him to the floor, and for all three girls to knock him out and lock him in a closet.

"I wonder what made him pause," Ginny mused, weighing the sword in her hands experimentally. "Surely I don't look that terrifying with this thing? I've never had any lessons or anything, after all."

"I would be scared of you," Parvarti said encouragingly, and the procession moved on into the dark depths that held the true heir to the sword, soon forgetting all about the greasy-haired potions concocter.

In truth, Severus Snape had hesitated for a whole other reason, when he saw the young redhead holding the sword of Godricshollow. It has brought back memories of a different time, with a very different redhead but holding that same sword - but that is a story for another time.

...

Ginny, Parvarti and Lavender moved past the barred doors, Ginny purposefully leading the way with the sword, which almost seemed to gleam in the dark, lighting their way. Finally, they reached their destination.

"Quick," Ginny whispered to Parvarti, who clumsily handed her the set of keys they had snatched off Snape's belt. After a few tries, Ginny found the right key and unlocked the door, hurrying inside with Parvarti right behind her. Lavender grabbed the keys out of the lock and followed after them, and gasped at what she saw.

There, on his side on the floor, was none other than Harry of Godricshollow, in the very shirtless flesh. Lavender and Parvarti both blushed and looked away, but Ginny seemed to be beyond formalities. She ran to Harry, helping him sit up - which seemed to cause him great pain.

"Oh Harry," Ginny said soothingly, "you have been beaten."

And indeed he had. Lavender felt a pang of sympathy, and solidarity, with this stranger, because she recognised the tell-tale red lines running down the boy's back. She knew what that felt like.

"G-Ginny?" Harry said groggily, trying to focus on her face. "What are you... what's happening?"

"We are here to rescue you," Ginny said - then giggled. "I'm sorry," she said, because Harry looked even more bewildered than before. "It just seems like such a reckless move... Oh but Harry, I had to come! If Lord Riddle finds out who you are..."

"Wait," said Harry, more alert now, "How did you... my sword!" he had just noticed the discarded object at Ginny's feet.

"Oh." Ginny blushed. "Lavender took it, before the guards got a hold of it. We brought it back to you."

Harry's eyes met Lavender's for the first time, and she saw a kindness and compassion there she had only ever seen in her mistress. She suddenly felt a rush of understanding for all those soldiers who Lord James had commanded, that had been willing to follow him into battle in King Albus' stead. If James had been anything like his son, Lavender knew that this was a man she would follow anywhere.

"Thank you," said Harry.

"I... I have a shirt for you," Lavender mumbled, and reached for the bundled cloth she had brought. She had almost forgotten she even had it.

Harry grinned. "Thank you again." He took the shirt and put it on quickly, groaning slightly as his wounds met the coarse fabric. "Now let us get out of here. I don't want to imagine what would happen if Riddle found out who I was!"

"Well," said a high-pitched voice behind them. "Maybe it is time to find out."

Lavender gasped and whipped around, to find herself face to face with her worst nightmare. She heard Harry get to his feet behind her, presumably with Ginny's help, but she couldn't take her eyes off Riddle's. She felt cold, it was like her heart had stopped pounding. Such pure, unmeasurable fear was running through her veins that she could hardly think, hardly breathe, hardly move.

"So we meet again, Harry of Godricshollow. Clearly killing you once was not enough." Riddle's words were calm, calculated. He smiled. "No matter. I shall relish doubly at your demise this time around."

For a moment, everyone in the cell stood completely still. But suddenly there was a flurry of movement, and all Lavender could do was hold onto Parvarti's arm as she was dragged out the cell - she saw Harry behind her sheltering Ginny, as Riddle moved towards them, grinning maliciously, his own emerald-hilted sword raise, while Harry's ruby-hilted was limp by his side, Harry himself frozen in shock.

Parvati gasped as she turned and saw what was happening, and she let go of Lavender so suddenly that Lavender stumbled and almost fell. Her friend was running back, brandishing a rock -where did she get that?- and, she was hurtling herself at Riddle, the stone hit him, he stumbled... Lavender was still just standing there, as though paralysed, watching the scene unfold. Parvarti had knocked Riddle to the floor but he was still conscious, Harry and Ginny jumped past him, following right behind Parvarti as they fled the cage.

"Lavender, LET'S GO!" it was Parvarti, or was it Ginny?

Lavender was only aware of the cold metal in her right hand. How long had that been there? Her eyes snapped up, hot air rushing in her ears, because she finally saw her path, and knew with perfect clarity what to do.

She bolted - but not for the exit. Ignoring the cries behind her, Lavender sprinted back towards the cell where Riddle was getting to his feet, his snake-like eyes glinting, reflected in the massive bundle of keys she held out before her. She reached the door right before he did, and slammed it - shut! Riddle roared in fury and lunged against the bars, and she felt something wet, but it didn't matter, because she had turned the key, locking in the prince of darkness, saving them all.

She looked into his furious eyes, and saw nothing but malice.

She turned to her three friends, who were all staring at her with a most comical mixture of relief, fear, shock and horror.

She then looked down, to see her grey shirt smeared with dark red, redder than the deepest burgundy gown Ginny had ever worn, redder even than the Godricshollow rubies. Lord Riddle had run her through with his sword.

Lavender frowned. She saw her friends rush towards her, she felt herself falling, she felt the keys still clutched in her hand fall heavily to the floor which was suddenly upon her. She saw Ginny's tears, Parvarti's wide, unbelieving eyes, Harry's shock and anguish, and she smiled. She would have liked to have seen that red-headed friend of his, just one more time.

And thus the serving girl Lavender Brown found her courage, and found her freedom.